Injustice “Mum,” Alina repeated, “why didn’t I get a million? Why only three hundred and thirty tho…

Injustice

Mum, said Amelia, wanting to be certain, why did I only get three hundred and thirty thousand? What sort of figure is that? I was expecting a million

She could hear her mums hairdryer whirring in the background. It clicked off, and then her mumVeronicareplied,
Yes, thats right. Three hundred and thirty. Its all correct.

But Amelia was sure she should have received much more.

Three hundred and thirty? Mum, wheres the other six hundred and seventy? I was expecting more or less a million. This was Dads money, you were to transfer it after selling the flat.

Oh, Amelia, dont start on your accounting again, Veronica sighed. You know I did everything above board.

Above board? Excuse me? The wooden floorboard under Amelias feet creaked in protest, echoing her irritation. I gave you the authority to sell my flatthe one I inherited from my father. I asked you to transfer me the money. Where did it all go?

She suddenly realised shed let her guard down too soon.

I did transfer it! I just did what any good mother would. The hairdryer whirred again for a moment before being set aside. I split the money between all my children. Equally. You have your rightful third.

Her rightful everything ought to have been with her.

You split my inheritance three ways? Between me and them? Amelia meant her half-brothers. Mum, that was my fathers money! I have a different dadyou do remember that, dont you?”

What difference does it make who their father is? Now her mother was styling her hair, not skipping a beat. Moneys for the family. Theyre your brothers, and Im your mum. Was I meant to just sit by and watch you have all that money while your brothers grew jealous? No, I made it fairI split it evenly.

If only she could go back to the day she signed over that power of attorney and give herself a good telling off for the mistake.

Evenly? You took my million and split it in thirds! Thats three hundred and thirty-three thousand! Wheres the rest, Mum? The flat was worth even more than that.

Yes, there was a bit more after all the taxes and fees, said Veronica carelessly, I rounded it. The restI kept for the hassle. Would you have dealt with all that paperwork? No. I did it all while you were at work.

How exhausting that must have been for you.

Mind your tone! snapped her mother. Your father mightve been your father, but Im your motherand I decide. Besides, youre an adult now, youre the eldestyou dont need as much as they do. The boys, well, theyll have families soon. For you, its not such a big deal.

So, Im not meant to start a family? Or am I simply expected to go without, just because Im a girl? Amelia replied sarcastically. Transfer the rest, Mum. Now.

No.

A curt answer. Full stop.

Her mum knew Amelia wouldnt do anything. Sue her own mother over money? Unlikely. No one would understand, and if anything, might judge her for it. Besides, a mum is still a mum. They still spokeat least a little.

A few weeks later, Ameliahaving composed herself and sorted her financescame across photos on social media. Ivan grinned next to a shiny blue Polo. Daniel proudly posted a caption under a picture of a new set of keys: My new babe!

The brothers had each bought themselves a modest car. Well, let them. Amelia put aside her three hundred and thirty thousand and resolved to be patient. As her gran used to say, patience is a virtue.

A year passed. Amelia worked, saved, and planned. Shed let go, but she hadnt forgotten. Her mum acted as though nothing had ever happened, calling, chattering away, recounting trivial stories.

Then today, her mum spoke in a voice that sent a chill down Amelias spine.

Amelia tensed.

Whats the matter, Mum?

Your grandmother Veronica faltered. The boys gran she died this morning.

Amelia felt curiously detached, almost as if she were watching a film. That grandmother had never played a role in her lifeit wasnt her gran, just her mums mother-in-law or the boys grandma. Still, she felt duty-bound to offer some sympathy.

Oh Im sorry to hear that. My condolences.

I have to handle the funeral, all the paperworkI dont have a minute. The boys they dont know what to do in situations like this. Can you come and help?

Amelia didnt refuse to be difficult; she simply couldnt get time off work.

Mum, Im at work. I cant just drop everything and rush to the funeral of someone I only met, what, three times in my life? replied Amelia.

Shed never once been invited to visit that grandmother.

Oh, please! begged her mum. I really need you.

I cant come, but Ill help financially. How much do you need? Tell me and Ill transfer it straight away.

Her mum looked like she wanted to decline, then thought better of itafter all, money is always handy.

Its not quite the same as you being here but fine. Could you add, say, twenty thousand?

Absolutely. And, one more thing, Amelia added, feeling this was her moment, Ill send a bit more separately, for the everyday things. Think of it as my contribution in memory of their grandmother.

Thank you, Amy. You always come through.

Amelia ended the call feeling a strange, unpleasant satisfaction. Shed found an excuse: she hadnt attended, but shed helped. Now, no one could reproach her.

Half a year passed. The funeral faded into memory. Daniel and Ivan seemed to have moved on to new gadgetsperhaps motorcycles or the latest phones.

One quiet Tuesday, Amelia decided the time had come. She dialled her mums number, sitting in the canteen near her office, still prepping for her next meeting.

Hi, Mum! How are things?

Amy! All ticking along. Daniels landed a new job, a bit better than before, and Ivan hes doing fine too, met a lovely girlfriend.

Glad to hear it, replied Amelia. Mum, I wanted to ask about something

Whats that? Veronicas voice sharpened.

Well, I suppose its been about six months since the gran passed. Everyones sorted out the inheritance, I imagine?

This time, the conversation was even more strained than when shed asked about the three hundred and thirty thousand.

Amelia, what are you getting at? Of course, its all sorted.

So wheres my share of that inheritance?

What inheritance? Her mum feigned confusion, but Amelia could always tellthe tone gave her away.

From gran.

But she wasnt your gran.

And? Whats the difference? Amelia led her mum back to her own logic. Im your child. You always said no child should be left out. You split my inheritance from my dad three waysmade everything equal. Your words.

Amelia, this is totally different! protested Veronica, switching to the offensive.

How so? You were adamant that inheritance must be sharedthats your policy to be fair to all the children.

Oh, dont compare these situations

How convenient! Amelia shot back, her voice biting. When it was my fathers money, the inheritance was shared and split evenly because were siblings. But now, when its their grandmothers flat, suddenly the inheritance sticks strictly to bloodlines?

Dont twist my words! Veronica fumed. Are you actually saying you expect a share of my mother-in-laws inheritance? How would the boys take that?

Im saying you used my trust to take a third of my money, justifying that we have the same mother, so everything must be shared, explained Amelia calmly. Now Im curious to see that logic used in my favour for once. You helped with their flat, didnt you?

The moneys already been spent.

On what? Cars? Renovations? Well, Id like a share too. Wheres my money, Mum? You always said I deserved less because Im a girl. I disagree.

Mum was quiet, no doubt trying to find a way out of the trap she herself had set the year before. It was always that way in their familythe boys were her stepdads sons, so they got everything nice, everything worthwhile. Amelia, to their gran, was never really part of the familya strangers daughter, never truly a granddaughter. And Mum never stuck up for her.

Amy, what sort of person are you? Her mum finally responded, grasping at straws. Why do you even need that money? Youve got a job, youre young and youre healthy. The boysDaniel and Ivanthey need to sort out their own homes. Theyre men! Its harder for them!

So, your position is this: my dads inheritance is shared because were siblings. But their grans inheritance is for the boys alone because theyre men and Im just a girl, who isnt supposed to expect much?

Stop being cheeky, said her mum. Why are you so greedy?

Her mum would never admit she was wrong. Amelia was simply a penny-pincher for wanting justice.

You might have forgotten, but under that power of attorney you were obliged to transfer me the full amount for the flat. And the limitation hasnt yet expiredjust so you know. Not that Im threatening, but

Amelia!! Are you threatening me now? came the anxious whisper.

No, Mum. But I can still claim whats mine. Think on it.

Just a month later, all what she was owed was transferred to Ameliaand promptly, she found herself blocked everywhere by her mother.